Indonesia arrests suspected militants ahead of year-end holiday

Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesian police have detained around 20
suspected militants as security steps up ahead of the Christmas and New Year
holiday season.

National police chief Tito Karnavian said the detentions were made
preventatively under a revised anti-terrorism law approved in May, following
suicide bombings claimed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) that killed
more than 30 people in the city of Surabaya.

The police chief did not identify any of the suspects, but said they
were detained in various parts of the country.

Although there is no information released yet about expected terror acts
over Christmas and New Year, security forces are taking proactive steps – including
arrests like these, Karnavian said.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has struggled to
contain a resurgence in militancy, during which scores of Indonesians have
travelled to the Middle East to join the IS.

In 2000, attacks on churches in the capital of Jakarta on Christmas Eve
killed nearly 20 people.

Under the revised law, anyone suspected of planning an attack can be
held for up to 21 days for an initial inquiry and for up to 200 days for a
formal investigation. –VNA